Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Historical Events in July 2006

  • Jul 1 The first operation of Qinghai-Tibet Railway in the People's Republic of China

Sports History

Jul 2 Michael Schumacher wins US F1 Grand Prix for the 5th time, 1st driver in any series to win 5 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Cricket Record

Jul 2 Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya (152) and Upul Tharanga (109) compile world record cricket ODI opening stand of 286 vs England at Headingley

  • Jul 3 Asteroid labeled as 2004 XP14 flies 432,308 km (268,624 miles) by Earth.

Sports History

Jul 3 Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman officially retires from the NHL, finishing with 692 goals and 1,755 points

Smile

Jul 3 English singer-songwriter Lily Allen releases her debut single "Smile"

US Women's Golf Open

Jul 3 US Open Women's Golf, Newport CC: Annika Sörenstam wins her 10th and final major title by 4 strokes in a playoff with Pat Hurst

  • Jul 4 North Korea tests four short-range missiles, one medium-range missile, and a long-range Taepodong-2. The long-range Taepodong-2 reportedly fails in mid-air over the Sea of Japan/East Sea.

Event of Interest

Jul 4 Richard Branson sells Virgin Mobile to NTL for £962.4 million

  • Jul 4 Space Shuttle program: STS-121 Mission - Space Shuttle Discovery launches at 18:37:55 UTC.
  • Jul 4 Sri Lanka sets new ODI cricket record score 443-9 in a World Cup win over Netherlands in Amstelveen (Jayasuriya 157, Dilshan 117no)
  • Jul 5 Emergency United Nations Security Council meeting at the U.N in New York City because of North Korean missile tests that day
  • Jul 5 North Korea tests at least two short-range Nodong-2 missiles, one SCUD missile and one long-range Taepodong-2 missile
  • Jul 6 The Nathula Pass between India and China, sealed during the Sino-Indian War, re-opens for trade after 44 years
  • Jul 7 Cleveland Indians first baseman Travis Hafner becomes first player in MLB history to hit 5 grand slams before the All-Star break when he homers off Baltimore's Kris Benson

Wimbledon Women's Tennis

Jul 8 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Amélie Mauresmo of France wins her 2nd and last Grand Slam singles event; beats Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

  • Jul 9 At least 122 people killed after a Sibir Airlines Airbus A310 passenger jet, carrying 200 passengers veers off the runway while landing at Irkutsk Airport in Siberia in wet conditions
  • Jul 9 FIFA World Cup Final, Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany: Italy beats France, 5-3 on penalties; 1-1 after extra time

US Senior Golf Open

Jul 9 US Senior Open Men's Golf, Prairie Dunes GC: Defending champion Allen Doyle wins by 2 strokes ahead of Tom Watson for his 4th Champions Tour major title

Wimbledon Men's Tennis

Jul 9 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: Roger Federer wins 4th straight Wimbledon title beating Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-0, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3

  • Jul 10 Pakistan International Flight PK-688 crashes in Multan, Pakistan shortly after takeoff, killing all 45 people on board
  • Jul 11 209 people are killed in a series of bomb attacks in Mumbai, India
  • Jul 11 77th All Star Baseball Game: AL wins 3-2 at PNC Park, Pittsburgh
  • Jul 12 Hezbollah initiates Operation True Promise.
  • Jul 13 UK singer-songwriter Lily Allen releases her debut album "Alright, Still" (Grammy nominee Best Alternative Music Album)
  • Jul 16 Senior Players Championship Men's Golf, TPC of Michigan: Bobby Wadkins his lone career major title by 1 stroke from Jim Thorpe
  • Jul 20 39th San Diego Comic-Con International opens at San Diego Convention Center

TV Show Appearance

Jul 20 During an appearance on "The Tonight Show", Colin Farrell is confronted by telephone sex worker Dessarae Bradford, who had been stalking the actor

  • Jul 23 93rd Tour de France won by Oscar Pereiro of Spain

British Golf Open

Jul 23 British Open Men's Golf, Royal Liverpool GC: Tiger Woods wins his 2nd consecutive Open Championship title and 3rd overall; holds off fellow American Chris DiMarco by 2 strokes

  • Jul 27 The Federal Republic of Germany is deemed guilty in the loss of Bashkirian 2937 and DHL Flight 611, because it is illegal to outsource flight surveillance
  • Jul 30 British Senior Open Men's Golf, Turnberry: American Loren Roberts wins in a playoff with Eduardo Romero of Argentina
  • Jul 30 Bruce Sutter, relief pitcher for Cubs, Cardinals, and Braves, inducted into MLB Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, New York
  • Jul 30 World's longest running music show "Top of the Pops" is broadcast for the last time on BBC Two. The show aired for 42 years.

Castro Hands Power to Brother

Jul 31 Fidel Castro temporarily hands over power to brother Raúl Castro, leading to a celebration in Little Havana (La Pequeña Habana), Miami, Florida, where many Cuban Americans participated.